As wrong as it might feel, considering the current weather outside, it’s time to celebrate summer, at least if Bandai Namco’s Summer Showcase is anything to go by.
From long-awaited sequels to brand-new surprises, the publisher behind some of gaming’s most beloved (and occasionally unhinged) franchises gave us plenty to chew on.
Whether you’re a die-hard anime fan, a JRPG enthusiast, or just here for the chaos, here’s everything you need to know from the showcase.
Patapon 1+2 Replay
The beat marches on with Patapon 1+2 Replay, a remastered bundle of the beloved rhythm-action cult classics, launching on the 11th of July.
Bandai Namco gave us a peek at the new version in action, featuring a fresh UI, an improved combo tracker, and our brave little eyeball warriors taking down a very unlucky plant monster.
As the literal god of the Patapons, you’ll drum out commands using mystical beats, build your adorable army from unique classes, and lead them on a glorious, chant-fueled march to Earthend.
With adjustable difficulty, timing tweaks, and over 400 items to collect and equip, this Replay is shaping up to be the definitive way to relive, or discover, the glorious noise.
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice
Bandai Namco kicked things off by revealing My Hero Academia: All’s Justice – a 3v3 action brawler that lets you throw down during the anime’s final, most over-the-top arc.
Featuring the full roster of Class 1-A (yes, even Mineta), and Pro Heroes and Villains at their peak power levels, this arena fighter leans into spectacle.
Expect cinematic clashes, Quirk-maxed combat, and a story mode that rewrites the final season from a game-exclusive perspective.
It’s the ultimate showdown between One For All and All For One, and honestly? It’s about to go Plus Ultra in the best way.
Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree
If Studio Ghibli made a roguelite and handed the sword to a priestess, you’d get something like Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree.
This gorgeous adventure had a lush new showcase, featuring two of the eight playable Guardians, Rekka and Nishiki, and teasing more reveals to come via weekly social updates until launch on the 19th of September.
You’ll explore a vibrant, mystical world as Towa, battling the creeping corruption of Magatsu with sacred swords, heartfelt bonds, and a combat system that pairs you with unique companions for ever-changing duos.
Add in a living village that evolves over timelines and music from Final Fantasy Tactics legend Hitoshi Sakimoto, and you’ve got yourself a roguelite that’s one part beauty, one part danger, and all kinds of magical.
Shadow Labyrinth
What if Pac-Man took a hard left into cosmic horror and said, “Let’s get weird”? That’s Shadow Labyrinth – a 2D action platformer where you play as Swordsman No. 8, wake up on a mysterious war-torn planet, and team up with a floating yellow orb named PUCK (who may or may not be manipulating you into something terrible).
The latest trailer showed off some late-game boss carnage, flashy skills, and a shiny new Aura system for stat upgrades.
You’ll fight, consume enemies, and evolve into the ultimate predator – like Metroidvania meets existential crisis.
It’s launching on the 18th of July, and it’s officially time to chomp your way through the shadows.
Code Vein 2
The anime vampires are back – and they brought time travel this time.
Code Vein 2 made another dramatic appearance with new details, including the reveal of Lou, a mysterious girl who lets you rewind time by a casual 100 years.
No big deal, just history-shattering stakes.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where Revenants are turning into monstrous “Horrors,” you’ll need to hack, slash, and stylishly dodge your way through intense battles while trying to prevent total annihilation (again).
Expect bloody good combat, flashy new abilities, and a partner system so emotionally loaded you might end up more attached to your AI than your friends.
Little Nightmares 3
Just when you thought it was safe to return to the shadows, Little Nightmares III returns with more reasons to sleep with the lights on.
The latest trailer gave us a peek at a grotesquely delightful new carnival area, where besties Low and Alone do what they do best – run for their lives.
This time, they’ve got iconic tools (a bow and a wrench), a disturbingly charming co-op system (play with a friend or brave it solo with AI), and even more ways to barely survive the horrors of the Nowhere.
Super Robot Wars Y
The anime mecha multiverse continues to explode in Super Robot Wars Y, the latest grid-based tactical RPG in the long-running crossover saga of giant robots punching existential threats into orbit.
Launching on the 23rd of August, this entry introduces a shiny new mechanic called Assist Link, which lets non-pilot side characters finally get in on the action, because emotional support alone doesn’t win wars.
With strategic battles, flashy anime attacks, and enough fanservice to overload a Gundam’s CPU, Super Robot Wars Y is gearing up to be the tactical equivalent of a hype compilation.
Rise, unite, triumph, and then probably yell something dramatic while launching a missile barrage.
The Blood Of Dawnwalker
Ever wondered what it’d be like to juggle family drama, vampirism, and the Black Death – all before bedtime?
The Blood of the Dawnwalker is here to bite. Developed by Rebel Wolves (aka the new studio founded by former Witcher devs), this open-world dark fantasy RPG has you playing as Coen – a man cursed with being a human by day, vampire by night, and emotionally overwhelmed 24/7.
Set in 14th-century Europe, the game lets you explore a gorgeously grim world, choose who lives or dies (literally, there’s a bloodsucking morality system), and race against time to save your family or go full Dracula out of spite.
There’s no release date yet, but it’s rising from the crypt in 2026, and we’re already sharpening our fangs.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger
The Digital World is in trouble again, and naturally, it’s up to you and 450 of your closest Digimon friends to save the day – by time travelling, no less.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is the latest entry in the monster-taming RPG series, and it’s looking like a nostalgic, turn-based fever dream (in the best way).
With a plot that kicks off with a mystery, a city-levelling explosion, and a rewind back eight years into the past, it’s basically the anime equivalent of, “What if time was broken, but cuter?”
Expect strategic battles, deeply customisable Digimon partners, and parallel worlds that look more detailed than your last vacation.
Bandai Namco’s Summer Showcase packed in everything from nostalgia hits to bold new IPs – and if this is just the start of what’s coming, our backlogs are about to enter their final form.
Whether you’re hyped or hesitant, one thing’s certain: Bandai knows how to keep us watching.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be over here, pre-ordering things we probably shouldn’t.
If you want to watch the full video of everything announced, you can check it out below.
What announcement are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.
